The Island Council supports naming the Island Athletics Centre after Juan Ruano Rojas

The Tenerife Island Council will begin the necessary administrative procedures to rename the Tenerife Island Athletics Center (CIAT) after the athlete Juan Ruano Rojas. This was announced by the president of the Island Council, Pedro Martín, to members of the platform promoting the name change for the Romualdo García and Salvador García Llanos sports complex, at a meeting held this morning, which was also attended by the Councilor for Sports, Concepción Rivero.

Martín stated that “this is a fitting tribute to an emblematic athlete of our island, who was able to achieve numerous milestones for Tenerife sport, despite the adversity he faced during his most brilliant period, coinciding with the post-war era.” He added that “his record, which includes twelve Spanish championship titles and eight high-level international competitions, justifies this homage to his achievements.”

For her part, the island councilor emphasized that “the Cabildo (Island Council) wants to recognize the brilliant record of Juan Ruano Rojas, an international athlete who proudly carried the name of Tenerife throughout Europe and who was unable to participate in the Olympics due to the economic difficulties of the time.”

Romualdo García praised “the receptiveness found at the Cabildo of Tenerife and the fact that the procedures to recognize this important athlete will begin. We are very pleased with the support this proposal has received from athletics clubs and federations on the island and throughout the Canary Islands, as well as from elite and amateur athletes.”

This request is supported by numerous groups, such as the Tenerife Island Athletics Federation (FTA), the Canary Islands Athletics Federation (FCA), CEA Tenerife 1984, and the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Journalists Association (APT), in addition to athletes and fans who have joined the petition through the Change.org platform.

Biography of Juan Ruano Rojas

Juan Ruano Rojas was born in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on April 24, 1923. From childhood, he excelled in various sports, including football. At just 20 years old, he was discovered by the historic Aguere Athletic Club and also by the Spanish University Syndicate (SEU), where his athletic talent was recognized.

In 1944, he won his first national championship in Avilés in the 400 meters and also excelled in the 200 meters, repeating this feat two years later at the inauguration of the Riazor stadium. In 1947, he won the 400 and 200 meters at the National Youth Front Championships in Santander; his times were absolute records for the Canary Islands. In Valladolid, he became the Spanish University Champion in the 200 meters.

In 1948, he was considered the best national sprinter with a time of 10.9 seconds in the 100 meters, the qualifying standard for the London Olympic Games, although he was unable to participate due to a lack of funding. Three years later, he won the National 100-meter Championship and participated in his first international meet in Portugal; he later competed in Lausanne, Switzerland. In both competitions, he finished second in the 100 and 200 meters.

Four years later, he achieved the qualifying times in the 100 and 200 meters to participate in the Helsinki Olympics, which he again was unable to attend due to a lack of support. In 1953, he set the Spanish record in the 100 meters with a time of 10.8 seconds, a mark he equaled that same year at a Provincial Championship in Tenerife. He retired in 1958, although he remained involved in island athletics until his death in 2004.